Field Biography

Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912

Field Family Biography

The Fields of the United States claim descent from Hubertus De La Feld, who was in England within a year or two of the Conquest by William the Conqueror, and who in all probability came over with him. He was one of the family of the Counts De La Feld of Colmar, in Alsatia, on the German border of France, who trace back to about the sixth century. The name was used with the prefix until about 1400, then became Feld, later Field, with its many prefixes and suffixes. The family in America trace to Robert Field who settled at Flushing, Long Island, in 1645. The name is an illustrious one in this country and has been borne by great lawyers and statesmen, and prominent business men. The line is definitely traced to John Field, born 1525, died 1587, married Jane, daughter of John Amyas.

(II) Matthew, second son of John Field, was born 1563; married and left issue.

(III) James, son of Matthew Field, was born 1587; married and had issue.

(IV) Robert, son of James Field, was born 1610. In 1645 he settled at Flushing, Long Island. He is supposed to have emigrated from England to this country during that year, although there is some proof that he came in 1630 to New England and to Long Island in 1645. He figured in public affairs, built a house near the bay and died before 1673. He had sons Robert (2), born 1636; Anthony, mentioned below; Benjamin, 1640.

(V) Anthony, son of Robert Field, "the emigrant," was born (probably in Rhode Island ) in 1638. His father deeded a house to him in 1654 and he is named in the patent of confirmation of Flushing in 1666. He took the oath of allegiance in 1673. He married Susannah, and had sons: Benjamin, born 1663, and John, mentioned below, who was the ancestor of the New Jersey Fields.

(VI) John, son of Anthony Field, was born in 1659. He was of Flushing, Long Island, where his estate was valued in 1683. He received from Governor Andros, between 1674 and 1681, a patent for land in New Jersey on Delaware bay. On December 14, 1695, John Field purchased ten hundred and fifty-five acres of land at Bound Brook, New Jersey, fronting on the Raritan river. He was commissioned a justice of the peace, February 14, 1710, for the counties of Middlesex and Somerset, New Jersey. His will was admitted to probate July 22, 1729, the year of his death. His wife was named Margaret, and bore him Jeremiah, mentioned below; Hannah and Charity.

(VII) Jeremiah, only son of John and Margaret Field, was born May 17, 1689, died November 10, 1746, at Bound Brook, New Jersey. He came to New Jersey with his father in 1695, and was commissioned a lieutenant of militia in Middlesex county, September 28, 1713. He was judge of the common plens and quarter session of the peace in 1741. He married in 1712, Mrs. Marytje Van Vechton, born October 8, 1687, widow of Albert Teneicke. She died August 28, 1742. The Van Vechtons were a leading Dutch family of that section. Children: Jeremiah, born January 27, 1713; John, April 5, 1714; Michael, August 24, 1716, died in infancy; Margaret, October 2, 1717; Mary, September 8, 1719; Michael, February 4, 1723; Benjamin, February 19, 1725; Richard, October 31, 1726; Sarah, October 15, 1728; Hannah, February 14, 1730; Tunes, mentioned below.

(VIII) Tunes, son of Jeremiah Field, was born in New Jersey, in 1732. He married March 28, 1764, Margaret Fisher.

IX) James, son of Tunes and Margaret (Fisher) Field, was born in New Jersey; died in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, having settled in Georges township. He was a farmer, married and left issue.
(X) David, son of James Field, was born in Smithfield, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, about 1798; died at the place of his birth in 1843. He learned the carpenter's trade which he followed all his life in connection with farming. He was a Whig in politics, and a trustee of Mount Moriah Baptist Church, of which his wife was also a member. He married Rachel West, who died at the age of fifty-seven years. Children: Mary Jane, married David Holmes; Melvina, married James French; Enos, mentioned below; Maria, married Henry J. Dougherty; James, married Elizabeth West; Margaret Jane, married Daniel Hair. These children are all deceased (1912 ), except Enos.

(XI) Enos West, son of David Field, was born near Smithfield, Georges township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1831. He was educated in the public schools, grew up on the home farm and when of suitable age began learning the carpenter's trade under the instruction of his father. He became a contracting builder and superintended the erection of many important buildings in his county. He has long since retired from active labor and now resides at Smithfield.
He is a Republican in politics and served his town as assessor. He is a trustee of Georges Creek Academy, and member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He married Priscilla McClelland, born in Georges township, Fayette county, in 1831, died in Smithfield, Pennsylvania, in 1891. She was a daughter of Andrew McClelland, a farmer of Fayette county, who died near Warrensburg, Missouri, in 1878, aged seventy-five years; married Priscilla Hopwood, daughter of Moses, son of John De Hopwood, the founder of the town of Wood-stock. Children of Enos W. and Priscilla Field: 1. Belle, now living in Smithfield, married (first) John Miller, (second) D. H. Baer, a merchant. 2. Margaret E., widow of Ewing Martin, now residing in Morgantown, West Virginia. 3. Cyrus West, died unmarried. 4. Ella M., married John K. Markley, now a merchant of Abilene, Kansas. 5. Frank C., died unmarried. 6. Mary M., married Joseph H. Moore, and resides in Smithfield, Pennsylvania. 7. James H., of Idaho. 8. Evan Dale, mentioned below.

(XII) Evan Dale, youngest child of Enos West and Priscilla (McClelland) Field, was born near Smithfield, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1874. He attended the public schools and spent his early years in Smithfield. He prepared for college at Georges Creek Academy and Bucknell Academy, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated class of 1895. He then entered Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, whence he was graduated A. B. class of 1899. He was principal of schools in Clinton, New Jersey, 1899 to 1902, then began the study of law under the preceptorship of T. H. Hudson, at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the Fayette county bar November 2, 1903. He began at once the practice of his profession in Uniontown and so continues, well established in public favor. He is a member of the State and County Bar associations and was for two years a member of the examining board of the latter. He is a Republican in politics and served two terms as a member of council for the borough of Smithfield. Mr. Field is interested in the coal and coke industry of his county and also in West Virginia. He is a member and trustee of Smithfield Baptist Church and a member of Stewart Lodge No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons, Clinton, New Jersey.

Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.